Introducing...Natalie Robins of New Hanover County

Hometown: Wilmington
Age: 37
Sports: Athletics, bowling, basketball and softball

Natalie Robins makes her claim to fame as the first known Special Olympics athlete to become a Global Messenger speech coach. Natalie became trained as a Global Messenger, a spokesperson for Special Olympics, and decided to take her involvement in the Athlete Leadership Program to the next level. She is now a speech coach for her another Special Olympics athlete, Lynetta Richardson.

During the 1999 Special Olympics World Summer Games, Natalie was an athlete reporter with Raleigh's NBC affiliate. Shortly after that experience, she was invited to Japan to speak to the national Special Olympics program on Athlete Leadership Programs.

Natalie was recently selected to serve as the Cape Fear Area representative for the Athlete Council for Special Olympics North Carolina. She is also a certified coach in bowling.

Natalie graduated from New Hanover High School and attends Cape Fear Community College, where she wants to earn a college degree in art or computer science. She is currently employed by Belk Department Store.

9/8/03

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To nominate an athlete for the Athlete of the Week feature, contact Michele Jonczak, communications manager, at 800-843-6276, ext. 110.